Science activities for the busy teacher.
This blog will be participating in the A to Z challenge for April 2016. Posts are abbreviated for visitors. Pertinent links for more in-depth information are provided. Warning to non-teachers, comments will get very honest answers concerning anything unsafe to do in a classroom. Teachers would not take it personal. Neither should you. Safety is first.

Follow by Email

Friday, April 1, 2016

Air Quality

Surprisingly, air quality in the United States is better today than it was in 1970 due to the Clean Air Act. Beijing, China has similar problems suffered by the United States prior to the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970. Air Pollution in China

So many people think that living far from heavy pollution protects them. I live in a rural area and the air is cleaner. I chose to live away from a popular more populated area to avoid summer smog from an Interstate and the heavy amount of commuters to large employers. Automobile exhaust is a significant contributor to air pollution.

Educating the public is important in solving this problem. I remember as a child the strong sulfur smell of the paper mill in Macon, Georgia. When it rained, my clean hair would appear greasy due to the high acidity of the rain. Air pollution also affects the acidity of our lakes and streams.

We do a better job today. But, we need to not be complacent or accepting of a problem. Like children not telling their parents they have a problem at school. They hope the problem will go away. Later parents learn the child has not been doing their homework, talking too much, failing tests or doing poor classwork. The child has to deal with their parent's anger and the poor grade. We have to remember that we all need to deal with the problem or pay the consequences.

Too often people mistake a problem as being a particular country. A young German woman was telling a group of teachers that they did not have pollution in German. Since she was a teacher and I was a teacher. I interrupted her and told her the truth. The Black Forest in Germany has problems due to pollution. Many rivers in her homeland are green due to eutrophication. Very poor environmental laws in the Soviet Bloc countries means water quality is very poor in those countries. First world countries do not suffer as much as those in second and third world countries. But they have a problem.

I chose pictures from Georgia and Alabama. Agriculture is the mainstay of our economies. We think of pollution being a large industrial Northeast city problem. More pictures can be found on

You would think New Zealand would be pristine. However, the nature of pollution is that you don't always see it. Below are two articles about New Zealand. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11251714http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/5690153/Auckland-air-pollution-worst-in-NZ

Safety Always

These activities are chosen and designed to be safe. The nature of an accident is it is not planned. Water is a very safe substance. Spill water on the floor, someone can slip and fall. The greatest safety rule is to Think before you Do.

I taught science for over 30 years. I had a few accidents in the classroom. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Purchasing a set of safety glasses at the dollar store is a good investment. I know parents, schools, etc shouldn't ask you to buy such. Life is all too real. If someone got hurt, you would have immense guilt.

Know your audience. There is a balance between a math teacher too afraid to let a group of students use a compass because it has a sharp point and the free for all approach some teachers use.

I've got a safety contract that I used in the classroom. Feel free to use it. The shorter and clearer the rule, the more compliance you will get. If you have that child or parent that you have to think like a Philadelphia lawyer around, realize it is an opportunity to deliver your instruction more clearly and safely.

I will post any warnings or cautions that I can think when making the posts. However, I cannot be responsible for what happens in your classroom or home. Use any of these activities at your own risk.